Benzoylpolyglutamic acid amides and preparation of the same



Patented Apr. 8, 1952 BENZOYLPOLYGLUTAMIC ACID AMIDES AND PREPARATION OF THE SAME John H. Mowat, Pearl River, and Coy W. Waller, Nanuet, N. Y.-, assignors to American Cyanamid Company, New York,

Maine N. Y., a corporation of v No Drawing. Application August 30, 1947,

Serial No. 771,570

This invention relates to new organic compounds and to process of preparing the same.

In our copending application Serial No. 606,704, filed July 23, 1945, now U. S. Patent 2,500,296 issued March 14, 1950 of which this is a continuation-in-part, we disclosedthat certain glutamic acid amides of p-aminobenzoic acid, especially those having a polypeptide linkage, such as p-aminoben oylglutamylglutamic acid and paminobenzoylglutamylglutamylglutamic acid and the salts, esters and amides thereof, are of particular importance in the preparation of new compounds having important biological properties.

As disclosed in our above named copending application, the reaction products of p-aminobenzoylpolyglutamic acids with 2,4,5-triamino-6- hydroxy pyrimidine and alpha,beta-dibromopropionaldehyde are growth stimulating factors for bacteria and higher forms or animal life and afiect the formation of haemoglobin. These polypeptides are also of value because of other physiological properties which have not yet been fully defined. Some of the various possible position isomers possess these physiological properties in different degrees, some being much more active than others, particularly in lower forms of animal life. In any event, it is desirable that methods be made available whereby the various isomers maybe prepared in good yield at a reasonable cost with certainty as to their chemical constitution and structure. The present application discloses such methods.

Because of the fact that glutamic acid is a dicarboxylic acid, polypeptides thereof may exist in more than one configuration. As shown in our copending application Serial No. 606,704, glutamylglutamic acid may have the alpha form NHrin which the terminal glutamic acid radical is 4 Claims. (Cl. 260-112) glutamic acid radical. As also shown, glutamylglutamic acid may have the gamma configuration When considering polypeptides having three glutamic acid groups, still more position isomers are possible. For example, gamma-glutamylgamma-glutamylglutamic acid:

0 O OH H2 I l-NH- HQCOOH This compound has a gamma, gamma linkage and is one of the preferred products of the present invention. Other possible linkages include that of alpha, gamma-glutamyldiglutamic acid 0 C O O H -NH-CH Nile- 11 H2 CH3 0 OH also, alpha glut-amyl-gamma-glutamylglutamic acid:

NH-AH2 NHa- H OH:

H: b H: C O O H n, -NH H OOH 'n,

H2 (soon alpha glutamyl-alpha glutamylglutamio acid and gamma glutamyl-alpha glutamylglutamic acid. In the case of still higher polypeptides the number of possible isomers becomes progressively higher but follows the same general pattern.

Obviously, the preparation of polypeptides of the class described and claimed herein will vary with the type of linkage. In general, compounds having an alpha linkage will be prepared by one method, whereas those having a gamma linkage, such as alpha, gamma, may be prepared by combination of procedures, as will be described hereinafter. It will also be shown that there are alternative procedures available to prepare the individual isomers.

A preferred method of preparing compounds having an alpha linkage is shown in our above named copending application in the first part of Example 16. According to that procedure. pnitrobenzoylglutamic acid is transformed into an anhydride, or azlactone, which when reacted with glutamic acid or a salt, ester, or amide thereof will result in substitution oi? the p-nitrobenzoyh glutamic acid, forming principally the dipeptide, p. nitrobenzoyl alpha glutamylglutamio acid ester. Simple hydrolysis in alkaline solution removes the ester group. The exact details of the procedure are as follows:

Example 1 A mixture of 5 parts by weight of pnitrobenzoylglutamic acid and 15 parts by volume of acetic anhydride was heated at 100 C. for 5 minutes. The solution was then cooled, filtered, and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was I then crystallized from chloroform and the crystalline product, p-nitrobenzoylglutamic anhydride, was then twice recrystallized from acetone and petroleum ether.

Glutamic acid was esterifled in absolute alcohol containing dry hydrogen chloride by the procedure of Fisher (Ber. 34, 453 (1901)).

A solution of 2.68 parts of diethylglutamate in parts by volume of dry chloroform was treated with 1.7 parts of p-nitrobenzoylglutamic anhydride. After standing at room temperature for ten hours the solution was extracted with dilute hydrochloric acid to remove excess diethylglutamate, and the chloroform solution was then evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 32.5 parts by volume of 1. N sodium hydroxide solution, and, after 1 hour at room temperature, the calculated amount of 6 N hydrochloric acid was added. The solution was treated with charcoal, filtered, and evaporated to dryness. The residue was extremely hygroscopic and could not be crystallized, but the barium salt of the product, p-nitrobenzoyl-alphaglutamylglutamic acid, was prepared, precipitated, and analyzed satisfactorily.

The nitro compound described above may be converted to the corresponding amino compound by reduction in accordance with the following procedure.

Example 2 A solution of 0.5 part by weight of the crude p-nitrobenzoyl-alphaglutamylglutamic acid in 1.5 parts by volume of water and 0.5 part by volume of ammonium hydroxide was added to a hot solution of 2.3 parts of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate in 6 parts by volume of water. Then 2.1 parts by volume of 28% ammonium hydroxide was added in several portions with heating and stirring. After separating the ferric hydroxide, the solution was evaporated to a small volume and treated with 10 volumes of ethyl alcohol. The precipitated ammonium sulfate was separated and the alcoholic filtrate was evaporated to drymess. The residue was taken up in 5 parts of water and acidified to a pH of Z to 3 with hydrochloric acid and then evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was then extracted with dry isopropanol, and the isopropanol solution was again evaporated to dryness. The crude product contained 89.3% of p-aminobonaoyl-alpha-glutamylglutamic acid.

Example 3 p-Nitroand p-aminobenzoyl-alpha-glutamylalpha-glutamylglutamic acids may be prepared by the same methods described above using in place of di-ethylglutamate an equivalent amount of alpha-glutamylglutamic acid or one of its salts, esters or amides. When gamma-glutamylglutamic acid is used, the final product will have an alpha-glutamyl-gamma-glutamyl configuration.

Example 4 A solution of diethyl glutamate (38.5 g.) of 210 cc. of dry chlorofrom was treated with 41.? g. of p-nitrobenzoyl glutamic acid anhydride at room temperature. The solution was then allowed to stand at room temperature for about 10 hours. The solution was then filtered and extracted twice with 50 cc. portions of about 1.2 N hydrochloric acid and then with cc. of water. After drying the chloroform solution over magnesium sulphate, it was filtered and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The viscous syrup was then dissolved in 600 cc. of 1 N sodium hydroxide to remove the ester groups and allowed to stand at room temperature for 1.5 hours. After acidification with the calculated amount of hydrochloric acid, the solution was evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The dry residue was then extracted with about 1 liter of dry acetone and filtered to remove the insoluble sodium chloride. The acetone solution was evaporated to dryness in vacuo, giving a voluminous, nonorystalline, hygroscopic residue. Wt. 62.25 g.

After 4 crystallizations from water the material melted at H P-147 C. corrected, and a mixed melting point with p-nitrobenzoyl-alpha-glutamylglutamic acid obtained by another method showed no depression of the melting point.

Example 5 A portion of the above crude, non-crystalline nitro compound was reduced to the corresponding p-aininobenzoyl alpha glutamylglutamic acid with ammonia and ferroussulphate.

Example 6 As indicated above, preferred compounds of the present invention are those in which the amino acids are connected by a peptide linkage at the gamma position. These compounds may be prepared by the processes indicated in the last half of Example 16 of our aforementioned copendinc application. As stated there, p-nitrobenzoylgamma-glutamylglutamic acid may be prepared by first reacting the anhydridc of p-nitrobenzoylglutamic acid with an equivalent amount of an alcohol to form the alpha ester. An acid chloride is then obtained by reaction with phosphorus pentachloride. Reaction of the acid chloride with glutamic-acid yields a polypeptide having the desired configuration. Hydrolysis of the alpha ester group and reduction of the nitric group yields the desired p -an1inobenzoyl-gamn1wglutarnylglutamic acid. of course, the salts, esters or amides of the acid may be used.

The 'p-rdtro and p-anilnohenzoyl-gamma-glutamyl-gaimna glutamylglutamic acids may be prepared by using gamma;glutarnylglutainlc acid in the above described reaction instead of glutainic acid. Likewise, the polypeptide having the gamma-glutainyl-alpha glutarnylglutainic acid configuration may he prepared by using alpha- .glutaniylglutarnic acid.

A method of preparing polyglutalnic acid amides of p-nitrobenzloic acid having either an alpha or a gamma linkage is to react a pnitrohenzoyl halide with a polypeptide of glutainic acid having the desired configuration. The following examples disclose such reactions:

Example 7 A solution containing 36 parts by weight of dicthyl-lso-glutaminyl glutamate scsquihydrate, 70 parts of water, and 180 parts of 2 N sodium hydroxide solution was treated with 36 parts of pnitrobcnzoyi chloride simultaneouely with 180 parts of 2 N sodium hydroxide solution during a period of about five to ten minutes. Ai'tcistirring for an additional thirty minutes the 1nixture was filtered and the filtrate was acidified to about pH 2. The precipitated p=nitrohenzoic acid was filtered off, and the filtrate on cooling deposited white crystals which on recrystallization from hot water had a melting point of l99= 201 C. uncorrected. The product hadthe. formula:

oi the above compound was converted to a carboxy group 'as iollowe:

A portion or the p=nitrobenzoyl isoglutaininyb zlutamic-acid prepared as. described above was dissolved-in 1 N N20}! eolution and warmed gently for a few minutes and then allowed to stand at room temperature for one hour. The A solution was then acidified to pH 2.0 with 1137* di'ochloric acid. The precipitate which was termed was cooled. weehed in water. and dried. It had a melting point of l$5.0-l86.5 C. uncor rooted. When mixed with a sample of p=uitrohenzoyl samma elutamylelutemic acid prepared Example 9 To a. well=stirred solution of alpha-glutamylglutamic acid (35 g.), water (300 cc.) and sodium hydroxide (17.75 a.) was added the g. of p-nitrobenzoyl chloride and 210 cc. of 2 N sodium hydroxide solution during a period of about 20 minutes. After stirring for one hour the mixture was cooled and filtered. The filtrate was then acidified with cc. of 6 N hydrochloric acid and thoroughly cooled. The crystalline precipitate was collected, washed with cold water and then extracted with several portions of hot Water 1:00 co. in all). The combined aqueous extracts were filtered while hot and then cooled for several hours in the 'icehorr. The crystalline precipitate oi p'= nitrohennoyl alpha glutarn'ylglutan'iic acid was collected, washed with water and dried. Wt. 40 g. (76%).

After recrystallization from hot water, the product p=nitrobenzoyl=alphaglutainylglutamic acid was analyzed and found to checlc very closely with the theoretical values for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. The product had a corrected melting point of 1e6.5-le8.5 C. A 4% solution in acetone had an optical rotation of [a] :-{-8.12.

Example 10 Example ii The followln ei-rainple will describe the prep oration of tetraethyl p nitrobenzo l aanlna glutainyl e gainrna glutarnyl gutaniate. Inas= much as one of the starting materials, tetraethyl gamnie=glutaniyl=gainnia glutanlyl glutamate hydrochloride appears to be new, the description in start from known conipounde.

78.0 grains of alpha=ethyl carhohenzoayglu tamate was dissolved in 250 cc. of dry ether and cooled to -l-(l 67.8 grams of phosphorous pen= tachlcride was added in portions with stirring over twenty minutes not allowing the tempera= ture to rise over -5 C. The mixture was then stirred thirty=five minutes at -5 to 0 Q, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to c. reeiclual syrup, lreeping the temperature below ll" C. This residue was washed four timee by decantation with cold; dry heptane and was then dieeolved in 256 cc. cold. dry chloroform andput in a Dry=Ice bath. It was then ruined with lien grams diethyl glutamate in 250 cc. chloroform which had been cooled in a Dry=lce oath. he solution was allowed to stand at roorn temperature hours and was then shaken out with 200 cc. each time of the following: ilve three: with 9.2 N hydrochloric acid. five times with (ii iii. hydrochloric acid, two times with 0.2 N sodium bicarbonate, one time with 6.1 N hydrochloric acid, and two truce with water. The GHCI: solution was dried overnight over M230 and evaporated to dryness in vacuum.

The residual oil changes over to a hard waxlike material.

65 grams of crude triethyl carbobenzoxygamma-glutamylglutamate was dissolved in 435 cc. alcohol, treated with Norite, and filtered. 217 cc. water, 17 cc. acetic acid, and 2.6 grams of 10% palladium charcoal catalyst was added. A stream of hydrogen was passed through, and CO2 was evolved. After two hours another portion of 2.6 g. palladium charcoal catalyst was added and reduced one hour. The CO2 was no longer being evolved so the catalyst was filtered out, and the solution concentrated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in 100 cc. dry CHCla and HCl gas was bubbled through the solution for twenty to thirty minutes. 650 cc. dry ether was added which precipitated an oil. This oil slowly crystallized and was filtered off and dried.

Upon repeated crystallizations from ethyl acetate or chloroform-ether, a constant M. P. is reached at 129-130 C'.

ting -5.6 (4% solution in water) 25 grams triethyl-gamma-glutamyl glutamate hydrochloride was dissolved in 100 cc. CH]: and 1.448 grams sodium dissolved in 50 cc. ethanol was added. A colloidal precipitate of NaCl formed. The mixture was concentrated to dryness in vacuum and more CHC13 was added and again concentrated to dryness in vacuum. This treatment was repeated once more, and then the residue was suspended in 30 cc. CHCh and kept cold until ready for use.

grams alpha-ethyl carboben'zoxy glutamate was dissolved in 30 cc. dry ether and cooled to 10 C. 8.7 grams PCls was added in portions over fifteen to twenty minutes with stirring and exclusion of moisture. The solution was stirred twenty to twenty-five minutes more and filtered. It was then concentrated to dryness in vacuo, keeping cold. The residue was washed four times with 25 cc. portions of cold, dry heptane. The residue was then dissolved in 30 cc. cold dry CHCla and mixed with the CHCla solution of triethyl-gamma-glutamylglutamate prepared in the preceding paragraph. The solutions were mixed at Dry Ice bath temperature and kept at room temperature for 2.5-3 hours. It was then shaken out with 25 cc. portions of the following: 4 of 0.2 N H01, 4 of 0.1 N HCl, 2 of 0.1 N NaHCOa, 1 of 0.1 N HCl, and 2 of water. It was dried over Mgsoi and concentrated to dryness. The solid residue was shaken with ether and filtered off.

. 11.32 grams tetraethyl carbobenzoxy-gammaglutamyl-gamma-glutamyl glutamate as prepared above was dissolved in 125 cc. alcohol, 40 cc. water, and 4 cc. acetic acid. 0.4 gram 10% palladium charcoal catalyst was added, and hydrogen was bubbled through. The CO2 evolved was collected as BaCOz. After two hours, 0.4 gram more palladium charcoal catalyst was added. The reduction was finished after live hours. The catalyst was filtered out, and the solution was concentrated to 40 cc. and diluted with 75 cc. water. A white flocculent precipitate was filtered off, and the water solution concentrated to dryness. The oily residue was dried over P205 and dissolved in 30 cc. CHCls. H01 gas was passed in t o forrn the hydrochloride, and the product was precipitated by adding 150 cc. ether. The product was filtered off and dried.

5.32 grams of tetraethyl-gamma-glutamylgamma-glutamylglutamate hydrochloride from the above preparation was stirred with 50 cc. of

tallization from hot alcohol the melting point was raised to l70-171 0. Analysis of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen checked very well withthe theoretical values for tetraethyl-p-nitrobenzoylgamma-glutamyl-gamma-glutamyl glutamate.

Example 12 milligrams of the above nitro compound was reduced to the corresponding amino derivative by stirring with 2 cc. of ethyl alcohol, 2 cc. of water, 0.1 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid, and 100 milligrams of iron powder for seventy-five minutes. The excess iron was then removed by filtration and washed with /2 cc. of acetic acid and 3 cc. of water. Analysis of the filtrate showed that it contained 97% of theory of the amine.

Example 13 A quantity of alpha-gamma-glutamyldiglutamic acid tetraethyl ester acetate (28.9 parts by weight) was suspended in 35 parts by weight of dry ether and treated with '7 parts by weight of diethyl amine. The ether solution was decanted from the precipitated diethyl amine acetate and treated with an ether solution of 9.3 parts of p-nitrobenzoyl chloride. After standing at room temperature for thirty minutes the pre-. cipitate was cooled, washed with ether and water, and dried at 56 C. in vacuo. When recrystallized from hot 25% alcohol, the product appeared to have a melting point of aboutl42-l43" C., but the rate of heating seemed to affect the melt ing point. Analyses for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen checked very well with the calculated values for p-nitrobenzoyl-alpha,gamma-glutamyldiglutamic acid tetraethyl ester, the compound having the following formula:

(p10 CaHs OOCIH! v O I rem-@Ji-ne-r'sn (111 O -NH( 0 Q2115 (H) H: 112

O 0 C 11; Example 1 4 cated that the reduction was complete The above mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was adjusted to pH 8.2 by the addition of sodium hydroxide. The precipitated iron hydroxide was removed by filtration and washed with ethyl alcohol. The combined filtrate and washings were acidified to a pH of 6.5 and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was suspended in a little water, collected on the filter, washed with water, and dried. On recrystallization from 25% ethyl alcohol it had a melting point of 145-l 18 C. uncorrected. Analyses for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen checked well with the theoretical values for p-aminobenzoylalpha,gamma-glutamyldiglutamic acid tetraethyl ester.

- Example 15 I The following example describes the preparation of 'p-nitrobenzoyl-alpha-glutamyl-alphaglutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester. In this reaction p-nitrobenzoyl chloride is reacted with the triethyl ester of alpha-glutamyl-alpha-glutamylglutamic acid. 'Inasmuch as the latter compound appears to be new, a detailed description of it from known compounds is included.

130 grams of gamma-ethylglutamate was warmed up with 64 grams of sodium bicarbonate in 500 ml. of water and filtered. To this was added over a period of minutes 131 gramsof carbobenzoxy glutamic acid anhydride. The temperature was held at 29 to 30 C. and the pH at 8.75. The solution was stirred and held at pH of 8.75 for 30 minutes more. This was then diluted to 3,000 ml. with water. To this concentrated hydrochloric acid was added dropwise to a pH of 3.5. Temperature 33 C. At this point a small amount of oily material started to come out. This was set in the refrigerator overnight. The crystalline material was filtered off.

A portion of the above crude carbobenzoxyalpha-glutamyl-gamma-ethylglutamate was recrystallized from water. 40 grams of this material was added to 800 ml. of water heated to 90 C. This was filtered, and the filtrate cooled to 60 C. A crystalline material had settled out. This was filtered oil and dried. M. P. l57-l58 C.

100 grams of carbobenzoxy-alpha-glutamy1- gamma-ethylglutamate was added to 1000 ml. of 2B alcohol containing 42 grams of p-toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate. This was allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 days. The crystalline material was filtered ofi. Wt. 95 grams, M. P. 104-106 C. When the filtrate was cooled further, '7 more grams of material was obtained.

The- M. P., 104-106 C., checks with that for carbobenzoxy-alpha-glutamyl glutamic acid triethyl ester preparedby another method.

49.4 grams of carbobenzoxy-alpha-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester was dissolved in 1000 ml. of 2B alcohol containing 19 grams of p-toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate. Then 2.5 grams of 10% palladium charcoal catalyst was added. Hz was bubbled in.. In 1 hour. and 20 minutes the reduction was complete.

The reduction mixture describedabove was filtered, and the filtrate concentrated .to a syrup under reduced pressure. The-syrup was washed with petroleum etherandv residue again subjected to reduced pressure to remove solvents. The residue was made up to 125 ml. with water and adjusted to pH'8.5. To this was added 28.9 grams of carbobenzoxy glutamic acid anhydride. Temperature was held at to C., and the pH was held at 8.5. This was then diluted to 400 m1. and made acid. A gummy precipitate came down. The mixture was heated to 60 C., and the water phasepoured off. The oily layer was then mixed with 400 ml. of .water and heated to C. Most of the water phase'was drawn oil, and the rest poured into a graduate. Volume, 30 ml. This was disssolved in 170 ml. of 2B alcohol and chilled in the refrigerator. A white crystalline material was filtered off. Wt., 12.5 grams. M. P., VHS-144 C. Part of this was recrystallized from alcohol. 2.5 grams of the above was heated with 35 ml. of 2B alcohol until it went-into solution. This was cooled to 55 C. and filtered. The filtrate was set in the refrigerator for two hours. A white crystalline material was filtered off, washed with cold alcohol, andcold ether. M. P. 146 C. v

156 gramspf carbobenxozy-alpha-glutamylalpha-glutamyl ,glutamic acid triethyl ester as prepared above was warmed up to 60 C. in 1500 ml. of 2B alcohol containing 26.3 grams of p-toluene sulfonic acid. This was held at this temperature for two hours and then allowed to stand over night at room temperature. The tetraethyl ester resulting was warmed up to 5,0 0., and 5 grams of palladium catalyst (10% on charcoal) was added. Hydrogen was bubbled in. At 2 hours the reduction was complete. The catalyst was filtered off and the solvents removed under reduced pressure. Towards the end a little toluene was added. (To assist in re-- moval of water.) This was repeated three times. To the residue 600 ml. of water, grams of sodium bicarbonate, and 500 ml. of chloroform (chloroform was used because the product is soluble in this solvent), and 58 grams of p-nitrobenzoyl chloride were added with stirring. The temperature was about 18 C. This was then warmed up to 38 C. and stirred for hour. The chloroform phase was drawn off, washed with a little sodium bicarbonate solution, and filtered. The chloroform was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 1000 ml. of 3A alcohol and set in the refrigerator over night. 169 grams of air dried material were filtered off. The whole batch was dissolved in 1000 ml. of warm 3A alcohol and filtered. To the filtrate 1000 m1. of water was added. A white crystalline material settled out. The M.QP. was essentially the same as the original. This material was then dissolved in 1000 ml. of ethyl 'acetate. 300 mlsoi water was added and sodium bicarbonate added in excess of solubility. This was then stirred vigorously and heated to 70 C. The water phase was drawn off, and the ethyl acetate phase reduced to a solid phase under reduced pressure distillation. The residue was dissolved in 1000 ml. of warm alcohol and filtered; The filtrate was cooled in ice bath. 113 grams of p-nitrobenzoyl-alpha,alpha-diglutamylglutamic acid tetracethyl ester, a white material, was filtered off. This fused at 115 C. (when'the filtrate was cooled over night at 7 09;. 7 grams more was obtained. This fused arm C. This compound, as well as some of the others described herein, exhibits polymorphism, one'form thereof having a melting point at144 f C. when prepared by another method.

Example 1 6 iif lhe' above nitro compound was reduced to p-aminobenzoyl alpha,alpha diglutamyl glutamic acid tetraethyl cedure ester by the following pro- 99 grams of the p-nitrobenzoyl triglutamic acid tetraethyl ester was added to a solution of 400 ml. of glacial acetic acid and 600 ml. of water. Temperature about 33 C. 58 grams of zinccopper dust was weighed out. When part of this was added, the zinc-copper seemed to conglomerate. Therefore, the temperature was raised to 40 C. This did not seem to help. Therefore, 250 ml. of ethanol was added, and the temperature raised to 45 C. The rest of the zinc-copper was added, plus 10 more grams. The mixture was stirred 10 minutes longer and filtered. The filtrate was diluted to 2500 ml. with water, cooled, and filtered. The precipitate was dissolved in 750 ml. of alcohol, and 750 ml. of water added. This was cooled and filtered. This material had an M. P. of about 141 0., and a light brownish color, indicating that it was not a pure compound. Many recrystallizations from alcohol and alcohol-water did not improve the material. All of these attempts at purification caused a great loss of material. Finally, 30 grams of material left, the material was added to a solution of 1000 ml. of water and 100 m1. of acetic acid heated to 90 C. This solution was filtered hot. The coloring material was filtered off. Upon cooling, an almost white precipitate came down. This was filtered off. Wt. 17 grams. This had an M. P. of 148 C. The analyses checked closely with theoretical values.

Example 17 In the reaction between alpha-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester and carbobenzoxy glutamic acid anhydride, as described in Example 15, the major reaction product is carbobenzoxy alpha glutamyl alpha glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester. However, some carbobenzoxy gamma-glutamyl alpha-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester is formed. This is a more soluble material than the principal product, but may be recovered from the solution after removal of the alpha-alpha product and purified by crystallization from alcohol. After decarbobenzoxylation and para-nitro benzoylation in the manner described in Example 15 the resulting product. para nitrobenzoyl-gamma-glutamyl-alpha-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester has a melting point after recrystallization twice from alcohol of 185-186 C. The analysis of the product checked with the theoretical values, and a mixed melting point determination made with the same compound prepared by another method showed no depression of melting point.

Example 18 A quantity of the para-toluene sulfonic acid salt of alpha-glutamyl-gamma-glutamylglutamic acid tetraethyl ester was dissolved in 125 m1. of water. To this was added 25 grams of NaHCOs and 22 grams of p-nitrobenzoyl chloride in 100 ml. of chloroform. This was stirred vigorously for one hour at room temperature. The temperature was then raised to 40 C. and stirred for twenty minutes more. The chloroform phase was drawn oif and concentrated to a syrup. To this 250 ml. of 23 alcohol was added. About grams of p-toluene sulfonic acid was added and heated to 50. to 60 C. (to make sure that the compound was completely esterified). This was set in a refrigerator over night. A white crystalline material was settled out. Wt. 22 grams. Melting point, softened at 135 C., melted at 144 C. This was recrystallized twice from 2B alcohol. Melting point 154 C.

In the above examples p-aminobenzoylpolyglutamic' acids and esters were prepared by the reduction of the. corresponding nitro compound. It is not necessary, however, that the amino derivatives be prepared in this way. Other groups which may be converted to an amino group by hydrolysis, reduction or otherwise may be prepared, and these compounds then converted to the aminobenzoylpolyglutamic acids in known manner. The following examples are directed to certain of these compounds.

Example 19 5 grams of triethyl p-aminobenzoyl-gammaglutamylglutamate, was suspended in 50 cc. of water and 3.5 cc. of concentrated HCl. The resulting hydrochloride was not completely dissolved. This was cooled to 0 C. in an ice-salt bath, and the diazonium derivative formed by adding slowly a solution of 0.75 g. of sodium nitrite in 5 cc. of water to the well stirred mixture. After thirty minutes stirring this was added to a well stirred solution of 1.0 g. of phenol and 4.0 g. of NaeCOs in cc. of water. A red gummy solid appeared which solidified quite quickly. After cooling this was filtered, washed with water and dried; yield 5.8 g.

This material was dissolved in 50 cc. of a hot solution of 50% ethanol-50% water. It was Norited, filtered and cooled. It oiled out and then solidified in crystalline form; yield 4.6 g. of orange solid.v This was recrystallized from 35 cc. of ethyl acetate, and the product, triethyl p (p hydroxyphenylazo) benzoyl gammaglutamylglutamate, crystallized again from ethyl acetate. It crystallized in long, needle-like crystals, orange in color; yield 2.4 g.; M. P. 143- 144 C.

This product may also be prepared by reacting p-(p-hydroxyphenylazo)-benzoyl chloride with gamma-glutamylglutamic acid, or an ester thereof, in the presence of an acid binding substance as in the preceding examples. Treating the product with a reducing agent, such as sodium hydrosulphite or stannous chloride converts the azo group to an amino group.

Example 20 1.5 g. of p-aminobenzoyl-gammaglutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester was dissolved in 20 cc. of reagent acetone and 1 cc. of acetic anhydride was added. This was refluxed for one hour and placed in the refrigerator overnight. The product was filtered, washed with acetone and ether and dried; yield 1.0 g.; M. P. l63-165 C. This material was dissolved in 8 cc. of ethanol and when cooled, the product, p-(acetyl-amino)- benzoyl-gamma-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester, jelled out. It was filtered and dried and then recrystallized from 10 cc. of dioxane; fine hairlike needles (white); yield 0.6 g.; M. P. -166 C. Y

Example 21 2.0 g. of p-aminobenzoyl-gamzna-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester was dissolved in 40 cc. of acetone and 10 cc. of water was added. Then 0.35 g. of NaHCOa and 0.7 cc. of carbo- [al z7:-' 2.5 solution in ethanol) 13 benzoxy chloride was added and the solution shaken for minutes. Another 0.35 g. of NaI-ICO: and 0.7 cc. of carbobenzoxy chloride were added, and the solution shaken occasionally for 30 minutes. 150 cc. of water was then added and a crystalline precipitate appeared. After cooling, this was filtered, washed with water and ether and dried; yield 2.45 g. (95%). This was recrystallized once from 140 cc. of a solution of one part ethanol and one part water. The product, p-(carbobenzoxyamino)-benzoyl gammaglutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester, was crystallized again from ethanol. It crystallized in white needles; yield 1.4 g.; M. P. l51-152 C.

[cl "=-18.5 C. (2% solution in ethanol) Example 22 2.0 g. of p-aminobenzoyl-alpha-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester was dissolved in 25 cc. of reagent acetone and 1.5 cc. of acetic anhydride was added. This was refluxed for one hour and then cooled for several hours. The product, p (acetylamino) benzoyl alphaglutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester, crystallized out; yield 1.7 g. This was recrystallized once from 70 cc. ethyl acetate and once from cc. of ethanol; thin hairlike needles (white); yield 1 g.; M. P. 174-176 C.

[al =-6.75 (2% solution in ethanol) Example 23 2.0 g. of p-aminobenzoyl-alpha-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester-was dissolved in 40 cc. of acetone and 10 cc. of water added. To this was added 0.35 g. of NaHCOa and 0.7 cc. of carbobenzoxy chloride, and the mixture was shaken for 10 minutes. Then another 0.35 g. of NaHCOa and 0.7 cc. of carbobenzoxy chloride was added, and the solution stood 30 minutes with occasional shaking. About 150 cc. of water was added and the product, p-(carbobenzoxyamino)-benzoylalpha-glutamylglutamic acid triethyl ester, oiled out but solidified and crystallized quite quickly upon cooling. After cooling overnight it was filtered, washed and dried; yield 2.5 g. (97%). This was recrystallized once from cc. of ethyl acetate and once from 20 cc. of ethanol; long thin, rectangular prisms (white); yield 1.8 g.; M. P. 134-135 C.

[c] 21=5.0 (2% solution in ethanol) Example 24 1.0 g. of crude p-aminobenzoyl-gamma-glutamyl-gamma-glutamylglutamic acid tetraethyl ester was suspended andpartially dissolved in about 35 cc. of reagent acetone. 0.5 cc. of acetic anhydride was added, and the solution refluxed for one hour. After standing in the refrigerator several days the product, p-( acetylamino) benzoyl gamma glutamyl gamma glutamylglutamic acid tetraethyl ester, was filtered off and dried; yield 0.5 g. This was then crystallized from 8 cc. of ethanol. It tended to gel. However, by warmhig and cooling repeatedly it changed to a crystalline product. This was crystallized again in the same manner; yield 180 mgs.; M. P. l79-l83 C.

Example 25 3.0 g. of p-aminobenzoyl-gamma-glutamylgamma-glutamylglutamic acid tetraethyl ester was dissolved in 50 cc. of acetone and 10 cc. of water was added. Then 0.4 g. of NaHCO: and 0.8 cc. of oarbobenzoxy chloride were added, and

the solution shaken for 10 minutes. Another 0.4 g. of NaI-ICOs and 0.8 cc. of carbobenzoxy chloride was then added, and the solution stood for 30 minutes with occasional shaking. About 140 cc. of Water was added, and the product, p-(carbobenzoxyamino) benzoyl gamma lutamyl gamma-glutamyl glutamic acid tetraethyl ester, oiled but quickly solidified. This was cooled 3 hours, then filtered, washed and dried; yield 3.5 g. This was crystallized from 15 cc. of dioxane, and the product recrystallized from 35 cc. of ethanol. Upon cooling the ethanol the product tended to gel so that warming and cooling was necessary to cause crystallization. It crystallized inwhite needles; yield 2.0 g. M. P. 146-148 C.

[al =-23.8 (2% solution in ethanol) Example 26 20 g. of gamma-ethyl-p=nitrobenzoyl=gammaglutamylglutamic acid was suspended in 190 cc. of water and 20 cc. of ethanol and reduced with 17 g. of zinc dust containing 3% copper. HCl was used to maintain a pH of 3.5. After reducing for about one hour the excess zinc was filtered off, NILLOH added until the filtrate was distinctly alkaline and H28 passed in for 30-40 minutes. The ZnS was filtered off, and the filtrate brought to pH 3 and evaporated to dryness using a high vacuum pump and a dry ice trap. Ethanol was added and evaporated again. Then the solid was taken up in about cc. of absolute ethanol, filtered to remove NH4C1, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness to give a flaky solid; yield-17.4 g. A Bratton-Marshall amine test showed this to be 88% pure. This represents an 84% yield of amine.

This material was then dissolved in cc. of dried absolute ethanol containing .1 g. HCl/cc. by warming to 50-60 C. This stood at room temperature overnight during which time a gelatinous precipitate appeared. It was then cooled several hours, filtered, washed and dried; yield 15.8

g; M. P. 182-184 C. This was the hydrochloride [a] =-20.3 (2% solution in ethanol) Example 27 15.0 g. of gamma-ethyl-p-nitrobenzoyl-gammaglutamyl-amma-glutamylglutamic acid, was suspended in cc. of water and reduced with 10 g. of zinc dust as described above. After the final evaporation the yield of fiaky solid was 11.4 g.

This material was esterified as described above using 60 cc. of dried absolute ethanol containing .1 g. HCl/cc. This product was also gelatinous; yield 9.7 g. This was suspended in 70-80 cc. of water, warmed to about 60 C. and 3.5 cc. of pyridine added. The hydrochloride dissolved, and the p-aminobenzoyl-gamma glutamyl gammaglutamylglutamic acid tetraethyl ester came out as an oil which solidified upon cooling. It was filtered, washed with water and ether and dried; yield 7.0 g. It was then recrystallized from 20 co.

15 of absolute ethanol. It crystallized in small triangular platelets; yield 5.7 g.; M. P. 14 1-146 C. (U. S. P. method).

lal =-27.2 (4% solution in ethanol) Example 22 27.8 g. (dry weight) of p-nitrobenzoylalphagluta-mylglutamic acid was suspended in 150 cc. of water and reduced with 22 g. of zinc dust. Some ice was added to keep it cool during the reduction. 'fiiis was worked up as in the two previous examples to give 21.6 g. of a flaky solid which was 91% amine by a Bratton-Marshall.

This was esteriiied by dissolving in 140 cc. of dry absolute ethanol containing .1 g. HCl/cc. of solution. This stood at room temperature for 8 hours during which time a crystalline solid appeared. After cooling overnight it was filtered, washed and dried; yield 16.9 3.; M. P. 164-167 C. This was recrystallized and Norited from about 140 cc. of ethanol. It crystallized in hair-like needles; yield 12.6 g; M. P. 168-168 C.

12 g. of this hydrochloride was suspended in 120 cc. of water, warmed to 60 C. and 8 cc. of pyridine added. The free amine, p--aminobenzoyl-alpha-glutamylglutamlc acid triethyl ester, oiled out but solidified and crystallized upon cooling; yield 10.7 g; M. P. 113-415 C. This was recrystallized and Norited from 75 cc. of ethanol; yield 6.8 g.; M. P. 114-415" C.

laln =-8fl5 (2% solution in ethanol) The new products of the present invention are generally characterized as being white solids having amelting; point within the range of about 130 to 200 C. It is difficult to generalize concerning the solubility characteristics, but for the most part the esters are generally insoluble in water whereas the free acids are water soluble. They are also soluble in organic solvents, as will be apparent from the previous example in which difierent solvents were used in the purification procedures. The preferred procedure in which a benzoyl halide is reacted with the desired polyglutamic acid, salt, ester or amide is preferably conducted under anhydrous conditions using a solvent such as ether, benzene, chloroform or the like, with an alkaline substance such as diethyl amine to take up the acid which is formed as a result of the reaction. The temperature of the reaction may vary considerably from about up to 75 C. or even higher. The reaction is rather fast in anhydrous solvents, in most cases, heing slower in media containing water.

We claim:

1. Compounds of the group consisting of those having the general formula wherein R is a radical of the group consisting of amino. acetylamino, carbobenzoxyamino, hy-

drcxyphenylazo, and nitro and --NHG is a polypeptide radical of glutamic acid. and the salts, esters, and amides thereof.

2. A method of preparing compounds having the general formula in which NHG is a polypeptide radical of glutamic acid, which comprises the steps of mixing together under reactive conditions a p-nitrobem zoyl halide and a polypeptide of glutamic acid.

3. p-Nitrohenzoyl-gamnia glutamyl glutamic acid having the formula o coon Nm-O mqon dint 20 on. 00011 coma H H? (IJH: coon 4. A method of preparing compounds having the general formula in which -NHG is a tripeptide radical of glutamic acid. which comprises the steps of mixing together in a solvent p-nitrobenzoyl chloride and gamma-glutamyl-gamma-glutamyl glutamic acid and thereafter reducing the nitro group of the resulting product to an amino group.

JOHN H. MOWA'I. COY W. WALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rossander et al. Mar. 14, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES N umber 

1. COMPOUNDS OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THOSE HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA 